My canon powershot only powers on in playback mode. when i try to power up in camera or video mode, the camera's lens tries to retract but only for a split second and always returns . I have bo video or audio CAPTURE only turns on for playback.. I do not wish to purchiss another camere and Id like to use my 4 GIG

5 Suggested Answers

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Anonymous

Never buy a Canon camera again. I have the same problem, and sorry that nobody has a solution. This is the worst of the 3 Canon digitals I have purchased. Lack of a view finder makes it impossible to preview shot when outside on a bright day.

She is maybe referring to the Fixya pricing to pay for solutions... or maybe somebody sent her a message saying to send it to them and they would inspect it for $10.

Fixya can be a great place to find free advice but when it comes to repairing a digital camera with a stuck lens you will only get the following advice for free:1- Bang it on the table2- Grab the lens with something and pull it out3- Blow compressed air into it

Most of the time this is not going to repair a camera with a defective lens, and if it does the problem will probably return later. Why not do it properly instead??

1- Banging the camera on the table may dislodge (temporarily) dirt or sand that is in your camera and the lens will work. The dirt will shift again eventually and your lens will jam up again.- Banging the camera on the table can also dislodge ribbon cables inside the camera and stop it from powering or disconnect your LCD screen.- Banging the camera on the table can also crack your LCD screen.

2- Never EVER twist a stuck lens, grab it with something and pull on it, or push it back into the camera. All you will do is more damage to something that may be repairable.

3- Compressed air may dislodge some dirt or sand like in #1, but it's still in there and will come back again eventually.

What's the real answer??

You need to open the camera, remove the lens, disassemble the lens and clean it, then put it all back together. This needs to be done in a static free environment or you can short out the camera, and you need to be careful and pay attention to detail.

If this doesn't work, the lens needs to be replaced. If the camera is under warranty the manufacturer should do it for free. If not look for an ACTUAL digital camera repair business and NOT your local electronics store; they know NOTHING about repair and will tell you it's either $200 or they will tell you to throw it in the trash.

How do I know this?

I have been operating an affordable digital camera repair business for 4-5 years now. Even if you don't use our services; DON'T pay somebody $200 to fix your camera, but please DO feel free to contact us for help or advice.

I've had similar problems with various versions of this camera. Here's the fix, if all else fails. These are step-by-step instructions to take apart and fix the camera's lens error. http://johnsmouth.wordpress.com/2010/12/01/lens-error/

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From the way you describe the problem it appears that the retraction mechanism has become out of line. I think that as you can hear a clicking sound the mechanism is working but not engaging with the lens. Try gently applying slight pressure on the front of the lens this may help to re-engage. You may need to consider a trip to the repair shop.

You could try to help the lens coming out if you hear the motor trying to. Or hold the camera with the lens downwards to let gravity help as well. Hope that will help. Or the lens mechanism will be faulty and the whole lens needs to be replaced. But such a repair might not be worth it because of the costs and the value of the camera.

Never buy a Canon camera again. I have the same problem, and sorry that nobody has a solution. This is the worst of the 3 Canon digitals I have purchased. Lack of a view finder makes it impossible to preview shot when outside on a bright day.

Again the same old compact camera zoom lens problems - sand in lens, stuck AF motor, chewed up plastic gears...you only have to look at them wrong and they will die... (A very cynical camera repairer that has tried to repair these damn things soo often!!) Even cameras with internal lenses like the old Nikon 950/990/4500 still have troubles with stuck motors and broken lens parts. I despair - these things are just made to last the guarantee out (if that long) and die horribly afterwards!!

it could be the battery is at the end of its life. try getting a new battery for it and trying agian. If this is not the case then it could be the camera has come to the end of its useful life (they are not built to last very long sadly)
but try the battery and see what happens.

It sounds like the focus element in your lens is not functioning properly. Does the lens retract completely when you turn off the camera?
When you push the button does the camera attempt to focus the image? If you do not see any change in the image when you push the button, and do not hear any sound - then your focus motor is either jammed or malfunctioning.
David Millier
Advance Camera Repair